Author: Elizabeth DeBarros

Liz DeBarros is holding another session of Absolute Beginner Group Lessons at the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville starting on Wednesday January 25th 4pm – 5pm. Six, one hour lessons $150 – for full details go www.ukelessonsliz.com or to register email ukelessonsliz@shaw.ca

Also on offer are two essential skills workshops –

Saturday January 21st 2023 2.00pm – 3.30pm MYSTERY OF CHORDS

Learn how and when to use a capo and how to change the key of a song to suit your singing voice – $30 plus $18 if you need a capo

Saturday February 25th 2023 2.00pm to 3.30pm FINGERPICKING TECHNIQUES

Learn basic fingerpicking skills, how to pick a tune and an introduction to simple TABS – $30

If you register for both workshops, the fee is $55 plus $18 if you need a capo

Full details on www.ukelessonsliz.com or to register, email ukelessonsliz@shaw.ca

Save the date

Sunday March 20th at 2pm, we will be hosting an online workshop to be given by Avery Hill on an introduction to the Blues

 

More details when tickets go on sale on March 1st 2022

Great News!

 

Doug Pickard and Liz DeBarros are restarting the Ukulele Sing and Strum in Parksville, formerly hosted by Doug and Ron Usher.

From Monday October 25^th, we’ll be holding a bi-weekly Sing and Strum 6.30pm – 7.30pm at Shelly Road Hall,186 Shelly Road, Parksville.

With spaces limited, we will be requiring pre-registration and pre-payment, so we don’t have to turn anyone away at the door.

We have a block of five dates for our initial sessions, alternate Mondays: October 25^th, November 8^th, 22^nd, December 6^th, 20^th. We are asking for a pre-payment of $50 for the five dates.

COVID protocols will be in place and anyone wishing to participate must show proof of double vaccination with some photo ID at the first Sing & Strum on October 25^th. We will also be wearing facemasks.

For more information or to register and prepay,

email: ukelessonsliz@shaw.ca

UKULELE CLINIC AT ARBUTUS MUSIC STORE

6324, METRAL DRIVE, NANAIMO

SATURDAY AUGUST 21^ST    11.00AM – NOON

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Are you an adult who would like to play but don’t know how to go about choosing and buying a uke or how to learn?

This clinic will be led by Liz DeBarros, a JHUI certified ukulele teacher, and will demonstrate the versatility of the ukulele, the different sizes of uke available and how to choose the correct one for you. You will also have a chance to learn some basic skills.

Spaces are limited for these clinics, so pre-registration is necessary, and there is a charge of $10, which can be redeemed against the purchase of a ukulele, package or uke accessories in the Store.

To Register, call the store at 250 933 1900

or email me at ukelessonsliz@shaw.ca

Our own Liz DeBarros will be starting “in person” Group Beginner Ukulele Lessons at the McMillan Arts Centre in Parksville.

If you’ve never played, have only recently started playing or have played for a while but need a “tune up” (pardon the pun) of your skills by going back to basics; this is the course for you.

There are six, one hour sessions, starting on Thursday September 16th, 2-3pm, and going to the end of October (No class on September 30th). For full details and to register go to Liz’s website https://www.ukelessonsliz.com/schedule-of-events

 

For all of you who have, perhaps, been neglecting your ukuleles, it’s time to dust them off.

Liz DeBarros has a couple of online Zoom workshops for you to get back into playing again.

Both aimed at Beginners or “uke neglecters”, these are the perfect way to get back into playing or improving your current skills.

COOL HAND UKE – or How To use your chord hand

Available online on  EITHER Thursday July 16th at 11am  OR Saturday July 18th at 11am via ZOOM

This 45 minute workshop looks at how to develop good chording skills. The importance of good posture, how to use your arm, elbow, wrist and fingers to produce clean sounding chords.

Develop skills to anticipate chord changes and make clean chord changes.

Fee is $15

HOW TO LEARN NEW CHORDS

Available online on EITHER Thursday July 25th at 11am OR Saturday July 25th at 11am via ZOOM

This 45 minute workshop introduces exercises, tips and tricks to help you learn new chords.

A new way to learn the Bb chord and why it is so useful

Fee is $15

TO REGISTER – email ukelessonsliz@shaw.ca

Full details at https://ukelessonsliz.com/schedule-of-events

We have decided to suspend ticket sales for this year’s festival until we have more information regarding the COVID-19 situation. We hope to make a decision in May/June as the whether the Festival will be go ahead.

If you have already bought tickets, thank you. If we do feel that cancelling the Festival, in an abundance of caution, is the right way to go, you will receive a full refund.

Keep well, stay safe and uke on

Tickets are now available online for our September 18th & 19th September 2020 Ukulele Festival.

http://nanaimoukulelefestival.ca/concert-and-workshop-info/

Unfortunately, we have to postpone our March 22nd Sing and Strum. The venue we use, The Neighbourhood Church, has cancelled all services and events owing to COVID-19 concerns.

We hope to reschedule the event in a month or so.

Online ticket sales will be launched as planned on March 23rd at 10.00am

Keep well, keep safe and uke on

We are adding a new event this year; a Sing and Strum to be held on Sunday March 22nd at The Neighbourhood Church, 4951, Rutherford Road, Nanaimo, between 2pm and 4pm

Doors will open at 2pm and you will be able to buy tickets for this year’s Festival being held on Friday September 18th & Saturday September 19th.

The Sing and Strum will be led by members of The Revolving Doors and chords and lyrics will be projected onto a screen, so you can leave your music stands at home. If you just want to sing, that’s OK too.

This is a free event but donations are welcome.

Anyone buying tickets for the Festival at this event will receive a free Nanaimo Ukulele Festival tote bag.